Supreme Court verdict bars doctors from shutting down services

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued an order in the name of government, doctors and health professionals that emergency services including treatment of patients cannot be shut down in the name of protests and strikes.

A single bench of Justice Deepak Raj Joshee issued a verdict in response to a writ filed by advocate Bishnu Timilsina on behalf of a consumer rights organisation.

The organisation had moved court after Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella organisation of Nepali medical doctors, announced shutting down the services in protest of recently implemented criminal code after it introduced stricter provisions against medical negligence.

The organisation, however, has already withdrawn its protests now after the government addressed to meet their demands in an amendment to the new law.

Before this, the Association had frequently shut downs services except the emergency ward when they extended solidarity with the protest of medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC.